darn
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to fix a hole in a piece of clothing, like a sock, by weaving thread across it with a needle.
v.to repair a hole in fabric by weaving yarn or thread across the gap using a needle.
Simple“My grandmother taught me how to darn my old wool socks instead of throwing them away.”
In context“Before the era of fast fashion, it was common practice for households to darn elbows and heels to extend the life of expensive garments.”
UsageTransitive; takes a direct object representing the garment or the hole itself.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.a polite way to say 'damn' when you want to express anger or frustration.
v.to use as a mild, euphemistic substitute for the profanity 'damn' to express annoyance.
Simple“I'll be darned if I'm going to let him win this argument.”
In context“He darned the luck that had led him to miss the final train of the evening.”
Teacher's tipThis is a 'minced oath' used to avoid sounding vulgar; it is common in older generations or conservative settings.
- 03 C2 Proficiency
n.the specific place on a piece of clothing that has been fixed by weaving thread.
n.a patch in a garment created by the process of darning.
Simple“You can hardly see the darn on this sweater because the thread matches perfectly.”
In context“The conservator examined the ancient tapestry, noting several historical darns where the original silk had frayed.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.used to show you are annoyed by something, or to emphasize how much you like or dislike it.
adj.a euphemistic adjective used for emphasis or to express mild irritation.
Simple“I can't find my darn keys anywhere in this house.”
In context“That was a darn good performance for someone who has never been on stage before.”
Synonyms - 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
adv.used to mean 'very' when you want to emphasize an adjective.
adv.a euphemistic intensifier equivalent to 'damned' or 'very'.
Simple“It is darn cold outside today, so make sure you wear a heavy coat.”
In context“The new software is darn difficult to navigate without a proper tutorial.”